Southwestern College: From precipice to prosperity

CHULA VISTA  Southwestern College has moved away from a precipice and toward prosperity, said the college’s superintendent/president during a recent update on the educational institution.

“I entered Southwestern at a very interesting time — probably the worst recession in our country’s history resulting in the lowest funding for Southwestern,” Melinda Nish told Chula Vista City Council members March 25.

Nish was hired in November 2011, a year after the resignation of Raj Chopra, who left amid the controversy that occurred when the Western Association of Schools and Colleges placed the school on academic probation.

It later regained full accreditation under interim President Denise Whittaker, but suffered more battle scars.

It got caught up in what’s been dubbed the South Bay “pay to play” corruption scandal. Fifteen people, including current and former officials of several school districts and some contractors, were charged in the investigation. Some have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and felonies while others await court hearings.

Then there’s Proposition R — a $389 million general obligation bond passed by voters in 2008 for construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of facilities.

“When I came on board Proposition R procurement irregularities were all over the news,” she said. “There was a lot of doubt as to what was happening and what could happen.”

Nish said when the new board and administration was established the decision was made to take a step back.

“We had to make sure we were on the right path with Prop. R,” she said. “We owed it to the taxpayers to continue using those funds wisely.”

The college has since sought transparency and Nish said the college is in the process of hiring an internal auditor.

In March 2012 the college board voted to re-evaluate all Proposition R projects to determine the best use of bond funds and reassess priorities. This developed into Prop R New Look 2025.

“Part of the New Look 2025 was to redo the educational master plan, then revamp the facility master plan based on educational needs,” Nish said.

Phase one projects completed under Proposition R include the central plant, expanded entryways to the Chula Vista campus and practice fields. The completion of field house classrooms and the DeVore Stadium is anticipated in August.

There are also plans to expand the college’s National City campus on National City Boulevard by adding a two-story building with classrooms and labs, a quad with green space and community area.

In addition, Nish said the college is looking for community input on the new wellness center and performing and cultural arts center.

The current vision is for two Olympic-size pools opposite the football stadium, which would become part of a complex serving students and community members.

She said the college also is working to increase the percentage of students who complete associate degrees and certificates.

“We would like to be within at least the top 10 percent of California community colleges, of which there are 172 and that means that we would need to be at least at 58 percent completion,” she said. The college is currently at 43 percent.

Nish said Southwestern is working with San Diego State University on what’s called associate degrees for transfer, which provides guaranteed acceptance into the California State University system.

“It’s an attempt to get community college students through the system more quickly,” she said.

Looking forward to restoring stability, Nish said 16 full-time faculty members will be hired this fall and the governor’s January budget provides $2 million that Southwestern will use to offer more classes.

An earlier version of the story stated Southwestern College's bond measure is $289 million. It's actually $389 million.